Petition to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; April 20, 1875

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Petition to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; April 20, 1875

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People

Ames, Adelbert, 1835-1933 Breck, W.Buckingham, George Conway, Alfred Cunningham, W. Ben Griffin, William Johnston, Handy Osborn, I. N.Peacock, Henry Pingsee, Daniel Pratt, F. B.Ross, R. J.Scobes, Jordan Stoker, E. A.Thompson, Vance

Events

Crime Crime--Murder Criminal Procedure Criminal Procedure--Commutation of Sentence Criminal Procedure--Execution Criminal Procedure--Imprisonment Criminal Procedure--Sentencing Criminal Procedure--Trial

Organizations

Courts and Judicial Systems Courts and Judicial Systems--Circuit Courts Courts and Judicial Systems--Criminal Juries Mississippi--Executive Department Mississippi--Judicial Districts Mississippi--Judicial Districts. 14th District Mississippi--State Penitentiary (Jackson)

Occupations

Clerks Judges Law Enforcement Law Enforcement--Sheriffs Lawyers Lawyers. Public Prosecutors Secretaries

Places

Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson Mississippi--Madison County. Canton

Social Identifiers

Imprisoned people

Page 1

[note] 4/25/75 [/note]

Commuted to Penn for life,

To The Hon A Ames Governor of the State of Mississippi:

Your petitioners the undersigned citizens of Madison County, would respectfully represent to your Excellency that at the March Term of the Circuit Court of said County AD 1875, Handy Johnston was found guilty by the jury of the murder of one Geo Buckingham and sentenced by the judge presiding to wit the Hon W Ben Cunningham to be hung on the Seventh day of May AD 1875. Being fully cognizant of all the facts and circumstances of the case, we would earnestly pray your Excellency that said judgement may be commuted to imprisonment for life in the State penitentiary.

The Jury	~~Officers of the Court~~
E A Stoker
William ^his X mark^ Griffin
Henry ^his X mark^ Peacock
Jordan ^his X mark^ Scobes
Vance ^his X mark^ Thompson
Alfred ^his X mark^ Conway

Jurors

Page 2

We the undersigned Officers of the Circuit Court, having been present at the trial of Handy Johnson and heard all the testimony in the case, do earnestly concur in the written recommenda-tion, and ask your Excellency to grant the Commutation.

R J Ross Sheriff
Daniel Pingsee Circuit Clerk

Having as Dist Attorney con-ducted the prosecution against the above named Handy Johnson, I feel it my duty to join in the above reccommendations

F B Pratt
Dist. Atty. 14^" Dist

Page 3

to [unclear] for life— A.

Canton, Miss., April 27^th 1875

His Excelly. A. Ames
Jackson Miss.

Governor:

At the late term of the Circuit Court held in Canton I sentenced Handy Johnston to be hanged on the 7^th day of May. Knowing all the facts of the case I feel it my duty to recommend that you commute his sentence to imprisonment for life.

Most Respectfully Your Friend

W B Cunningham
Judge Circuit Court

I concur in the above recommendation.

W Breck,
Chancellor.

Page 4

"Handy Johnston"

EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI,
Madison County.

From Judges Cunningham & Breck
Address Canton
Dated April 22, 1875
Received [gap]
Answered [gap]

SUBJECT

Petition for Pardon—Murder

Commuted to Imprisonment for life in the Penty.

ADELBERT AMES,
Governor.

I. N. OSBORN,
Private Secretary.